"Fuck. Spock!" Jim said, a little bit of panic rising in his own voice as he slid to his knees on the floor in front of bones, trying to get a look at his face. He seemed to be muttering something inaudibly under his breath between gasps.
"Bones. Bones!" Jim said, a little frantically, trying to pry his friend's hand out of his hair. His fist was clenched so tightly, though, that Jim had no hopes of doing so.
Spock seemed to take quick toll of the situation, assessing the events in a short moment. "Doctor McCoy is experiencing a panic attack as a result of his aviophobia," he explained, "It is imperative that we attempt to calm him."
Jim nodded gravely, his own heart racing. It was so weird, just wrong to see Bones like that, all freaked out. Before his friend's aviophobia had amounted to nothing more than bitching about planes and and shuttles and shit, almost like a joke to Jim. But now he saw how serious it really was when the shit hit the fan.
"Bones! Calm down! It's all in your head. The shuttle's fine now," he said rushedly, his own voice quivering. Why the hell was he having such a hard time trying to calm Bones down? He could pilot a star ship during a full-fledged fire fight in enemy space with no back up, but he couldn't talk to a panicky friend? What the hell? As Bones didn't seem to calm down, in fact, he seemed to curl up even tighter, Jim looked to Spock for help.
Spock looked at him with measuring eyes, probably sizing up whether he thought the younger man could actually do this. He seemed to decide that either no, he couldn't, or it would be far simpler for Spock to speak to him as he moved closer to the trembling doctor.
"Jim," he said softly, "please ask the other passengers to move a minimum of 12 feet away from Doctor McCoy and see if you are able to procure a paper bag." Spock laid a hand lightly on Jim's shoulder.
Instantly, Jim felt calm flooding through him. His heart, which had begun to race when he'd become panicked and anxious about Bones' condition, slowed back to normal. He felt reassured, somehow. It was an eerie sort of feeling, like seemed to be common whenever Spock was involved but, as was also typically true with Spock, it wasn't bad. It was like the half-Vulcan was lending him some of his resolve, not like he was manipulating him, like Jim might've felt, but didn't.
Jim nodded, standing up and beginning to shoo people away, and asking around for a plastic bag just as Spock knelt in front of Bones and started muttering something to him quietly.
–
Spock was kneeling in front of Doctor McCoy as the man rocked slowly. He was very aware of all the eyes watching him closely with varied sentiment of concern and curiosity. He placed one hand lightly on the Doctor's knee, the fabric rough between his fingertips.
"Doctor McCoy, I need you to acknowledge that you are aware of my presence," he said calmly.
The head, obscured by hands knotted within his dark brown hair, moved in a jerky nod. Spock nodded in kind.
"I am going to attempt to enter your mind and assist you with calming yourself. I give my word that I will not take any unnecessary measures in your mind and that it will in no way harm you. Is this alright with you?" he asked, hand moving up to the other man's hand and lightly touching it.
The skin on skin contact made him bristle slightly as he felt panic flood across the weak, wavering connection he had formed with the panicking man before him. He closed his eyes with a deep breath and resisted the urge to pull away as he sensed—through the partial connection—rather than felt the Doctor nod in consent. Spock began, then, with fathering his will and mental force, which only took less than a second to center and focus. He then concentrated on an very calm, serene sensation, and willed it across their link to McCoy.
Spock felt the change in the other man almost instantaneously, as his muscles relaxed, not all the way, but at the very least they weren't coiled to the point of cramping, which Spock had gathered from his assessment of the Doctor's state across the temporary connection. He was still panting and gasping, though.
"I request that your match your breathing to mine, Doctor McCoy," Spock said in that same, droning monotone that he always used. His ears became acutely aware of Jim's voice in the background as he snapped at another passenger to 'back the hell up, lady' to the half-Vulcan's very, very slight amusement.
He evened his breathing to slow, deep breaths. Perhaps the paper bag would not be necessary, he thought. He felt Doctor McCoy gradually deepen his breaths, attempting to even them out, as Spock's calmness, the notion of serenity floating between them, assisted him. It was a few minutes later when McCoy let out a particularly deep breath and with it went the last of his panic and tenseness. He slumped backwards, against the seat and Spock pulled his hand away from the Doctor's. The sudden lack of another consciousness touching his own was stunning, a little relieving and disconcerting at the same time. It was like a warm spot from another person's body heat, suddenly exposed to cold air.
Spock's eyes opened and he looked around to find that he was still being watched. Jim, along with the rest of the passengers in their section of the transport, were all silent as he straightened himself, standing upright. Then the strangest thing happened.
They began to applaud. It confused Spock greatly and he had to use serious effort to keep the confusion from his face. But, in his attempts to ascertain why, precisely, they were clapping for him, he turned his gaze to Jim, who was beaming. He was smiling, so fiercely and with such a mix of emotions, ranging from ecstasy to relief to pride, that Spock had the illogical compulsion to smile right back at him. But, of course, he didn't.
The fact that he gave no outward signs did not mean, however, that the sight of Jim's smile as he clapped with everyone else, his Captain's eyes shining with that strange plethora of sentiments, did not send a small, illogical, irrational, thrill up his spine, causing him to shiver in a very pleasant way and odd way.
–
A/N: Well, we jumped POV/centic's (or whatever the hell you want to call it lol) in this chapter, because it would've been ridiculously short, if I hadn't. XD lol
Lady Merlin: I hope Jim wasn't too horrible x3 I thought it was sorta important for Spock to have a little moment of glory and Jim to step back and sorta watch him, y'know? Plus, this way, Jim has something to blither on about, when they get to Iowa. Lolz
MissStud: Oh, yes, don't we all? -wicked grin- I've laid many subtle parts in that last chapter that will be thought over, once things calm down. ^_^ lol
ThePurringTribble: Thanks for the props!! I've started to read jAnon's before, then got distracted (not because it was bad, mind you, just because I'm super ADD x3) and I've been meaning to get around to it again sometime soon. I've read some of your reviews on other stories, and I've always noticed that you're pretty insightful and constructive, so thanks! I try hard to put little details about things with Spock in.
rose taylor: Yeah, poor Bones x3 But he's okay now.
Mildetryth: xD -dies laughing- Oh, wow. Can I have permission to use that exact quote sometime, like, when he's drunk or something? Pretty please? Lolz
Sparrow: Yay! I'm glad you like it. I sometime stumble onto a really good fic and read it all in one sitting and am all disappointed when there's no more chapters, too. Lolz
OooLadyLucklessooO: Omg, maybe Jim can give you a paper bag so you don't hyper ventilate x3 And... I try -grins-
Mandy: Thanks! Hope you liked this chapter, too!!
MirrorFlower and DarkWind: Yep ^_^ He's cool now. Thanks!
Veglma: I honest to God seriously considered that for, like, ten minutes, but then I thought that it'd take away from the dramatic panic and focus on the sexual tension just a little too much for that particular scene. But have no fear, more awkward sexually charged contact is soon to come ^_^ lolz
Mary: I know. I just wanna hug the grumpy old man. Lol
Neenabluegirl: Thanks! lol Bones enjoys ruining Spock and Jim's moments. He basks in the glory of it. Lol I like him a lot, too. He's like the grumbly papa/uncle/big brother/what-the-hell-ever kindda figure for Jim x3
Kitsune-chan: It was such a wonderful opportunity that, really, how could I resist!! It's, like, the perfect wrench to throw into things and making them twistedly fun ^_^ Thanks a bunch!